Court rejects Abdo's appeal

AWOL soldier defiant in court

The silhouette of former Army soldier Naser Jason Abdo can be seen in July 2011 as U.S. Marshals transport him to an undisclosed location in Waco after he was arraigned in a U.S. District Court on a charge of possession of an unregistered destructive device.

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court on Monday rejected an appeal by would-be terrorist Naser Jason Abdo, upholding his conviction on several counts related to an attempt to kill Fort Hood soldiers.

Waco attorney Stan Schweiger was appointed by U.S. District Judge Walter S. Smith to handle Abdo’s appeal after his conviction in August 2012.

The 5th Circuit Court released its nine-page order affirming the conviction and sentences on Monday.

Abdo, 23, a former Army private first class, intended to detonate a homemade bomb he was in the process of building at a hotel on Fort Hood Street. He intended to set off the bomb at a local restaurant frequented by Fort Hood soldiers and shoot any survivors.

Abdo is currently serving two life sentences on charges of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and possession of a weapon in furtherance of a federal crime of violence garnered Abdo life sentences. He is also serving 60 years for charges of attempted murder of officers or employees of the United States, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a federal crime of violence and possession of a weapon in furtherance of a federal crime of violence.